What does the Bible say about the Bible?
by Kathryn Capoccia
Young Adults Sunday School Class
All Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by
permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
© Copyright Kathy Capoccia 2000. This file may be freely copied, printed out,
and distributed as long as copyright and source statements remain intact,
and that it is not sold.
I. What does the Bible say About The Bible?
A. Introduction
1. methodology- "who, what, when, where, why, how"
2. personal introduction and testimony
3. class introductions
B. Study
1. Facts
a) Who wrote the Bible?
1) human authors: 40 different men-
1PE 1:10-12 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who
spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched
intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the
time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them
was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and
the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that
they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of
the things that have now been told you by those who have
preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from
heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."
DEU 18:18 "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from
among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and
he will tell them everything I command him."
JER 1:9 "Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my
mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your
mouth.'"
WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS O.T. AUTHOR?
WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS N.T. AUTHOR?
*THINK OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE BIBLE AND NAME
SOME;
a] Moses; a political leader
b] Peter; a fisherman
c] Amos; a herdsman
d] Nehemiah; a cupbearer
e] Daniel; a prime minister
f] Luke; a doctor
g] David; a shepherd, soldier, and king
h] Solomon; a king
i] Matthew; a tax collector
j] Paul; a rabbi
k] Ezra; a scribe
2) God Himself-3,808 times in the Bible the writers testified
that they were writing God's words. *this is from "Focus on
Fact" by John F. MacArthur, Fleming H. Revell Company (1977)
pg. 45.
a] the O. T. writers believed that the Bible was the word of
God.
AMO 3:7 "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without
revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."
ISA 1:2 "Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD
has spoken."
b] the N.T. writers believed the O.T. was the word of God.
ROM 15:4 "For everything that was written in the past
was written to teach us, so that through endurance and
the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
2PE 1:21 "For prophecy never had its origin in the will
of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along
by the Holy Spirit."
HEB 1:1 "In the past God spoke to our forefathers
through the prophets at many times and in various ways."
JAM 4:5 "Or do you think Scripture says without reason
that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
intensely?"
c] the N.T. writers believed the N.T. was the word of God.
2PE 3:16 "He [Paul] writes the same way in all his
letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters
contain some things that are hard to understand, which
ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the
other Scriptures, to their own destruction."
1TI 5:18 "For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle the ox
while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker
deserves his wages.'"
*Paul quotes from DEU 25:4 in the former and LUK 10:7 in
the latter.
REV 19:9 "Then the angel said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed
are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the
Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'"
REV 21:5 "Then he said, 'Write this down, for these
words are trustworthy and true.'"
b) What is the Bible?
1) definitions:
a] "bible"- book
b] "scripture"- writings
c] "holy"- according to God
2) description:
a] collection of books.
b] supernatural: "living and active"
HEB 4:12 "or the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even
to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
c) When was it written?
1) time span? 1500 yrs., 40 generations
2) oldest book? Job
3) newest book? The Revelation of Jesus Christ
d) Where was it written?
1) on three continents; Asia, Africa, and Europe
a] in the desert- Moses
b] in Israel-
c] in Babylon- Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah
2) in different circumstances;
a] Moses wrote while in the desert
b] Jeremiah wrote while in prison
c] Daniel wrote while living in a palace and on a hillside
d] Paul wrote in prison
e] Luke wrote while traveling
f] John wrote while imprisoned on the isle of Patmos
g] Solomon wrote as king
3) in different languages
a] Hebrew was the major O.T. language
b] Aramaic was the language of the Near East- Daniel has
parts in this language
c] Greek was the N.T. language
e) How many books are there? 66
1) O.T.? 39
2) N.T.? 27
f) What is the King James Version of the Bible?
It was the Bible that King James of England commissioned and
sanctioned in the 16th century after being pressured to do so
by the German translation of the Bible by Martin Luther and the
English translation (an illegal activity) by William Tyndale.
It was written in the everyday language of the people, not in a
fancy, spiritual style.
g) Why was the Bible written?
1) it instructs us about:
a] God's character and attributes
i] He is personal
EXO 3:14 "God said to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. This is
what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I Am has sent
me to you.'"
GEN 1:26 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the
fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, over all the earth, and over all the
creatures that move along the ground.'"
PSA 110:1 "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right
hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet.'"
MAT 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
ii] He is moral
EXO 34:6,7 "And he passed in front of Moses,
proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate
and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and
forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does
not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the
children and their children for the sin of the fathers
to the third and fourth generation.'"
iii] He is the source of all creation
ROM 11:36 "For from him and through him and to him
are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
ACT 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything
in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not
live in temples built by hands."
ACT 17:28 "'For in him we live and move and have our
being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are
his offspring.'"
b] His expectations of us
i] He wants us to be saved
2PE 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.
ii] He wants us to be Spirit filled
EPH 5:15-18 "Be very careful, then, how you live--not
as unwise but as wise, making the most of every
opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do
not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will
is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
iii] He wants us to be sanctified
1TH 4:3,4 "It is God's will that you should be
sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
that each of you should learn to control his own body
in a way that is holy and honorable."
iv] He wants us to be submissive
1PE 2:13-15 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to
every authority instituted among men: whether to the
king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who
are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to
commend those who do right. For it is God's will that
by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of
foolish men."
v] He wants us to suffer
1PE 4:12-19 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the
painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you
participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you
may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you
are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on
you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or
thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a
meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not
be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family
of God; and if it begins with us, what will the
outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of
God? And, 'If it is hard for the righteous to be
saved, what will become of the ungodly and the
sinner?' So then, those who suffer according to God's
will should commit themselves to their faithful
Creator and continue to do good."
*this list was taken in its entirety from "Take God's
Word For It" by John F. MacArthur, Regal Books (1980),
pg.91.
2) it calls us into personal communication with God Himself
ACT 17:27 "God did this so that men would seek him and
perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far
from each one of us."
JER 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you
great and unsearchable things you do not know."
3) it makes us accountable- we have a standard we can be
measured against
REV 20:12 "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
according to what they had done as recorded in the books."
ROM 1:20-23 "For since the creation of the world God's
invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine
nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although
they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their
foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and
birds and animals and reptiles."
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE CANON OF THE BIBLE IS?
a] "canon" means standard-
the cannon is the list of true or "officially accepted
list of books" in the Bible
b] the canon was determined by five principles:
i] is it authoritative- did it come from God
ii] is it prophetic?- was it written by a man speaking for
God?
iii] is it authentic?- "when in doubt throw it out"
iv] is it dynamic?- was it life changing?
v] was it received, collected, read, and used?- was it
accepted by the people of God?
*this is from "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by
Josh McDowell, Campus Crusade for Christ (1972), pg.
29.
h) How do we know we can trust it?
1) by the way it was prepared- scribes meticulously hand
copying it; counting the letters of each row and each page,
every letter, syllable, word , and paragraph.
2) by the number of old copies that exist that we can compare
to itself.
3) because historical evidence validates it.
4) because science validates it (JOB 26:7; GEN 9:4; GEN 1:1).
5) because the martyrdom of the saints testifies to its
truthfulness.
6) because signs and wonders validated it (2CO 12:12).
7) because it has survived:
a] through time- more copies of the Bible exist than any
other book.
b] through persecution- many have tried to outlaw it.
c] through criticism- many have tried to attack its
veracity.
2. What does it say about itself?
a) It is inspired- "God breathed"
2TI 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed... and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".
1CO 2:13 "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by
human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
spiritual truths in spiritual words."
JOH 17:8 "For I gave them the words you gave me and they
accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you,
and they believed that you sent me."
EXO 4:15 "You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I
will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do."
DEU 4:2 "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract
from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give
you."
MAT 16:17 "Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my
Father in heaven.'"
b) It is authoritative- "thus saith the LORD"- 933 times in the O.
T.
EZE 3:10,11 "And he said to me, 'Son of man, listen carefully
and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your
countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is
what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to
listen."
ISA 45:23 "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all
integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee
will bow; by me every tongue will swear."
c) It is eternal-
PSA 119:89 "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in
the heavens."
MAT 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
never pass away."
1PE 1:25 "But the word of the Lord stands forever."
PSA 119:160 "All your words are true; all your righteous laws
are eternal."
d) It is infallible
MAT 5:18 "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything
is accomplished."
ISA 55:11 "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will
not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and
achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
PSA 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the
simple."
e) It is inerrant- it needs no revision
PSA 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the
simple."
PRO 30:6 "Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and
prove you a liar."
PRO 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to
those who take refuge in him."
JOH 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
2SA 7:28 "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are
trustworthy."
f) It is complete
JUD 1:3 "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to
you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and
urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to the saints."
REV 22:18,19 "I warn everyone who hears the words of the
prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God
will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if
anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will
take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this book."
g) It is profitable
JOS 1:8 "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your
mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful."
2TI 3:16,17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work."
2TI 3:15 "...the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
h) It is binding
MAT 5:19 "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called
least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and
teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven."
ISA 45:23 "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all
integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee
will bow; by me every tongue will swear."
i) It is effective
ISA 55:10,11 "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making
it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I
desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
1TH 1:5 "Because our gospel came to you not simply with words,
but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
conviction."
3. Miscellaneous Scriptures:
MAT 22:37 "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
PRO 1:24-28 "But since you rejected me when I called and no one
gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my
advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at
your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-- when
calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you
like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 'Then
they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me
but will not find me.'"
HEB 1:1-3 "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the
prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days
he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the
radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven."
JOH 8:47 "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason
you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
MAT 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
MAT 26:24 "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about
him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
better for him if he had not been born."
JOH 10:35 "If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God
came--and the Scripture cannot be broken--"
LUK 18:31 "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are
going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the
prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.'"
1CO 2:7 "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has
been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time
began."
1CO 2:14 "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him,
and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned."
PSA 119:18 "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your
law."
1CO 2:15,16 "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has
known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have
the mind of Christ."
MAT 4:4 "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God."
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Kathy Capoccia's Sunday School Lessons" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986